PITTSBURGH  FILTER 
MANUFACTURING  CO. 

PITTSBURGH,  PA. 


GRAVITY  FILTERS 
PRESSURE  FILTERS 
WATER  SOFTENING  PLANTS 


Pure  Soft  Water  for  Boilers 
Railroad  Water  Stations 
Laundries  and  all  Purposes 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER 
MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


GENERAL  OFFICE 
PirrSBURGH,  PA. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  August,  1905,  by  the  Pittsburgh  Filter 
Manufacturing  Co.,  in  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of 
Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


ATER  SOFTENING  is  not,  as  many  seem  to 
suppose,  a  result  of  recent  experimentation,  but 
has  been  known  and  practiced  as  an  exact  science 
for  over  sixty  years.  In  1841  Dr.  Clark,  of 
Aberdeen,  Scotland,  first  discovered  that  the  in¬ 
troduction  of  caustic  lime  in  a  water  containing 
bi-carbonate  of  lime  would  combine  with  the 
extra  part  of  carbonic  acid  contained  in  the  bi-carbonate  and  thus  release 
^  it  from  solution,  resulting  in  a  precipitation  of  the  lime  as  a  true  carbo- 
p— nate,  incidentally  the  added  lime  also  precipitating,  thus  freeing  the 
water  from  a  portion  of  the  impurities,  giving  it  “hardness.”  Some 
c- years  later  Prof.  Porter  found  that,  by  the  addition  of  carbonate  of  soda 
to  waters  containing  sulphate  of  lime,  the  sulphate  could  be  decomposed 
and  precipitated.  Thus,  by  a  combination  of  the  two  treatments,  a 
water  rendered  perfedlly  soft  and  suitable  for  any  purpose  desired. 

Strange  to  say,  however,  these  discoveries  were  not  utilized  pra(51;ic- 
ally  until  many  years  later  in  Europe,  and  only  within  the  last  ten  years 
were  even  thought  of  in  this  country.  About  that  time,  however,  some 
isolated  plants  for  the  purification  of  water  for  boiler  purposes  were 
established,  using  the  Porter-Clark  process. 

The  vast  possibilities  of  it  commercially  were  at  once  apparent  to 
those  few  who  were  in  a  position  to  note  the  results,  and  soon  several 
companies  were  in  the  field  manufacturing  softening  plants,  one  of  the 
first  being  the  Pittsburgh  Filter  Manufacturing  Company. 


JMTTSliURGH  I'lLTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Deleterious  Properties  Found  in  Water 


AI.L  natural  waters  contain  more  or  less  foreign  matter,  either  in  suspension 
or  solution,  and  the  relative  degree  of  purity  is  dependent  on  the  locality 
in  wldcli  they  originate. 

On  account  of  its  great  solvent  qualities  nearly  all  water  contains  more  or  less 
scale-forming  matter,  which  it  takes  up  from  the  earth  through  which  it  passes. 

This  quality  of  dissolving  and  holding  in  solution  various  solids  is  due  to  the 
carhonic  acid  gas  which  is  contained  in  almost  all  water. 

The  amount  of  scale-forming  matter  in  any  water  from  a  stream  varies  also 
from  season  to  season  and  from  day  to  day.  In  a  wet  season  or  after  a  rain,  river 
water  will  be  found  to  he  comparatively  pure,  the  scale- forming  matter  having  been 
diluted  with  the  pure  rain  w^ater.  In  a  diw^  season  the  water  will  become  more 
highly  charged  with  scale-forming  matter  as  its  volume  decreases. 

Water  coming  from  coal  mines  or  sulphur  deposits  will  he  found  to  contain 
amounts  of  sulphuric  acid  sufficient  to  quickly  corrode  a  boiler.  Water  highly 
charged  with  carhonic  acid  gas,  as  some  natural  waters  are,  will  also  corrode 
boilers. 

Water  containing  calcium  and  magnesium  chlorides  cause  corrosion  in  boilers 
by  the  hydrochloric  acid  wdiich  is  set  free  by  heat. 

Another  common  trouble  wdth  water  of  the  Western  United  States  is  the 
alkaline  compounds  which  are  frec|uently  found  in  them.  These  cause  foaming  in 
the  boilers,  especially  when  mud  or  vegetable  matter  is  found  in  the  water. 

Waters  taken  from  rivers  contain  not  only  soluble  impurities,  but  carry  in  sus- 
]K'nsion  to  a  greater  or  less  degree  mud  and  grit,  which  wear  out  pumps,  valves,  etc., 
and  often  quantities  of  vegetable  matter,  wdiich  cause  foaming  in  boilers. 

Send  us  an  analysis  of  your  waiter  and  w’e  will  tell  you  your  trouble  and  how 
to  cure  it. 


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PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


How  the  Impurities  Are  Divided 


The  impurities  may,  therefore,  be  divided  into  three  classes  : 
First — Corrosive  Impurities  Consisting  of 


Sulphuric  Acid . HsSO* 

Carbonic  Acid . H2CO3 

Sulphate  of  Iron . FeSO^ 

Calcium  Chloride . CaCF 

Magnesium  Coloride . MgCF 

Second — Scale-Forming  Impurities 

Calcium  Carbonate . Ca  (HCO3)  2 

^Magnesium  Carbonate . ]\Ig  (HCO3)  2 

Calcium  Sulphate . CaSO* 

Iron  Carbonate . Fe  (HCO3)  2 

Magnesium  Sulphate . MgSOi 

Third — Alkaline  Impurities 

Sodium  and  Potassium  Carbonate . Na2C03&K2C03 

Sodium  and  Potassium  Sulphate . Na2S04&k2S04 

Sodium  and  Potassium  Chloride . NaCl&KCL 


In  its  broadest  sense,  the  purification  of  water  refers  to  any  process  through 
which  the  quality  may  be  improved  and  the  water  better  adapted  for  the  purpose 
of  its  intended  use. 

Water  softening  consists  in  the  removal  of  the  deleterious  properties  held  in 
solution  in  the  water  and  their  retention  outside  the  boilers. 

These  results  may  be  accomplished  by  either  an  intermittent  or  continuous  type 
of  plant. 


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PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Chemicals  Used  and  Their  Reactions 


I^OR  almost  all  waters  caustic  lime  and  soda  ash  are  the  only  chemicals  which 
"  we  use. 

Caustic  lime  acts  upon  the  carbonates  of  lime  and  magnesium,  which  are 
in  solution  in  the  form  of  bi-carhonates.  These  substances  react  with  the  soluble 
bi-carbonate  to  form  insoluble  carbonate  of  lime  and  hydrate  of  magnesia.  Mud 
or  other  solid  matter  will  also  be  carried  down  with  these  precipitates ;  and  carbon¬ 
ate  of  iron,  if  present,  will  be  precipitated  as  hydrate  of  iron. 

Soda  ash  reacts  upon  the  sulphates  of  lime  and  magnesium  and  their  allied 
compounds,  decomposing  them  and  forming  insoluble  carbonates,  which  are  precipi¬ 
tated.  Soda  ash  also  neutralizes  any  acids  present  in  the  water,  destroying  their 
corrosive  power.  Chlorides  and  nitrates  of  lime  and  magnesium  act  like  the  sul¬ 
phates.  The  reactions  which  takes  place  between  the  chemicals  and  the  substances 
in  solution  in  the  water  are  as  follows : 

Lime  Process 

Calcium  Bi-Carbonate  Ca(UC03)i;+ Lime  Solution  Ca(OH2  =  Calcium  Carbonate^, 
CaCOs  +  Water  2H2O 

Magnesium  Bi-Carbonate  i\Ig(HC03)2  +  Lime  Solution  2Ca(OH)2  =  Magnesium 
H3Tlrate  Mg  (OH)  2  -f  Calcium  Carbonate  2CaC03  +  Water  2H2O 

Carbonic  Acid  H2CO3  +  Lime  Solution  Ca(OH)2  =  Calcium  Carbonate  CaC03  + 
Water  2H2O 

Sulphuric  Acid  in  water  H2SO4  +  Lime  Solution  Ca(OH)2  =  Calcium  Sulphate 
CaSQi  +  Water  2HaO 

Bi-Carbonate  of  Iron  Fe  (HCO»)2  +  Lime  Solution  2Ca(OH)2  =  Calcium  Carbon¬ 
ate  2CaC03  +  Iron  Hydrate  Fe  (OH) 2  +  Water  2H2O 

Soda  Ash 

Lime  Sulphate  CaSO^  +  Soda  Ash  NasCOs  =  Calcium  Carbonate  CaC03  +  Sodium 
Sulphate  NaaSO^ 

Magnesium  Sulphate  MgSO^  +  Soda  Ash  NaaCOs  +  Lime  Ca(OH)2  =  Magnesium 
Hydrate  Mg(OH)2  +  Sodium  Sulphate  NaaSO*  +  Calcium  Carbonate  CaCOa 

Chloride  of  Lime  CaCL  +  Soda  Ash  NaaCOa  =  Calcium  Carbonate  CaCOa  +  Sodium 
Chloride  2NaCl 

Chloride  of  Magnesium  MgCla  +  Soda  Ash  NaaCOa  +  Lime  Ca(OH)2  =  Magnesium 
Hydrate  Mg (011)2  +  Sodium  Chloride  2NaCl  +  Calcium  Carbonate  CaCOa 
Nitrate  of  Lime  Ca(N03)2  +  Soda  Ash  NaaCOa— Calcium  Carbonate  CaCOa  +  So¬ 
dium  Nitrate  2NaN03 

The  art  of  water  softening  and  purification,  in  competent  hands,  has  reached 
almost  the  final  stage  of  perfection  and  cheapness.  Fresh  lime  and  sodium  carbon¬ 
ate  are  the  most  efficient  chemicals  for  the  purpose,  and  are  also  the  cheapest. 


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PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Scale 


SCALE  or  Incrustation  in  boilers  is  caused  by  the  deposit  of  the 
salts  of  lime  and  magnesia  contained  to  a  greater  or  less  ex¬ 
tent  in  all  natural  waters,  in  solution,  not  being  volatile,  they 
are  precipitated  as  the  water  is  turned  into  steam. 

The  small  particles  as  they  come  in  contact  with  the  tubes  or 
shell  attach  themselves  to  it  and  as  they  gradually  increase  in  num¬ 
ber  completely  cover  the  metal  separating  the  water  from  the  metal 
which  is  therefore  continually  raised  to  a  higher  temperature  as  the 
accumulations  increase,  thus  baking  hard  the  deposit  and  causing  a 
continually  increasing  consumption  of  fuel  in  order  to  maintain  the 
process  of  steam  making. 

There  is  no  more  perplexing  problem  to  the  engineer  than  the 
one  of  how  best  to  prevent  the  formation  of  scale  in  his  boilers,  and 
many  and  varied  are  the  means  that  have  been  tried  in  the  effort  to 
overcome  thus  dangerous  and  expensive  incrustation. 

Scale  in  the  boiler  means  not  only  a  large  waste  in  fuel,  but  ex¬ 
tensive  and  frequent  repairs,  often  a  complete  stoppage  of  the  plant 
for  days ;  it  means  also  ample  reserve  capacity  of  boilers  to  provide 
time  for  cleaning  and  extra  labor  for  cleaning  boilers,  in  many  plants 
the  wages  of  several  men  contiually. 

The  greater  temperature  required  in  the  metal  to  produce  steam 
also  rapidly  deteriorates  the  plates  and  tubes,  reducing  the  life  of  the 
boiler  in  many  cases  to  one-half  what  it  would  be  with  pure  water. 

There  is  but  one  true  way  to  do  and  that  is  purify  your  water 
before  it  enters  your  boilers.  We  tell  you  how. 


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PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Corrosion 


CORROSION  is  one  of  the  most  destructive  agents  to  which  boilers  are  sub¬ 
jected.  It  arises  from  the  presence  of  acids  in  the  w^ater,  which  gradually 
concentrate  as  evaporation  goes  on,  and  combine  with  the  material  of  which 
the  boiler  is  constructed,  causing  “pitting”  and  honeycombing  of  the  most  suscepti¬ 
ble  parts.  Under  the  head  of  corroding  solids  there  are  three  very  dangerous  acids 
which  frequently  contaminate  water  found  more  or  less  throughout  this  country. 
Of  these  three  the  most  dangerous  is  sulphuric.  This  destructive  element  owes  its 
presence  to  drainage  from  coal  or  ore  mines,  paper  mills,  galvanizing  works  and  oil 
refineries,  and  may  be  noted  by  the  dark  green  tinge  of  the  water.  In  an  incon¬ 
ceivably  short  space  of  time  its  presence  is  noticeable  in  the  boiler  by  the  red  dis¬ 
coloration  of  the  water.  This  is  brought  about  b}'’  the  action  of  the  sulphuric  acid 
upon  the  iron  of  which  the  boiler  is  constructed,  producing  iron  sulphate,  which  is 
separated  from  the  water  as  ebullition  goes  on,  and  as  it  is  non-volatile  a  new 
supply  of  iron  is  constantly  taken  up  by  the  acid  until  the  plates  in  (time  will  be 
actually  destroyed.  The  same  conditions  exist  where  hydrochloric,  nitric,  tannic, 
acetic  or  carbonic  acids  are  present,  except  that  in  these  instances  the  action  is  of 
a  milder  form,  but  water  impregnated  with  either  of  these  acids  should  never  be 
used  for  steam  purposes  except  having  first  been  purified.  Iron  sulphate  in  its 
natural  state,  and  alumina  sulphate,  are  also  corrosive  agents,  and  should  receive 
proper  consideration  while  reviewing  this  class.  While  not  so  destructive  when 
the  water  is  at  its  normal  temperature,  when  heated  a  separation  takes  place,  leaving 
a  concentrated  free  acid  which  acts  injuriously  upon  the  plates  and  tubes  of  a  boiler. 
When  scale  is  permitted  to  form  in  a  boiler  fed  with  an  acid  water  the  danger  is 
increased  and  the  further  weakening  of  the  structure  thus  caused  is  naturally 
concealed. 


Priming 

WATER  which  contains  alkali  or  organic  matter  permits  the  formation  of  a 
scum  on  the  surface  of  the  heated  water  and  prevents  the  steam,  from 
rising  until  the  accumulated  pressure  is  sufficient.  This  results  in  great 
quantities  of  heated  water  being  thrown  up  and  mixed  with  the  steam,  or  it  may 
be  due  to  not  blowing  off  the  boilers  frequently. 

Alkali  waters  are  the  sources  of  supply  for  many  localities,  especially  in  the 
Western  States,  and  cause  much  trouble  to  users  of  steam.  A  great  portion  of  the 
efficiency  of  locomotives  is  lost  through  the  use  of  these  waters. 

Natural  waters  containing  large  quantities  of  sodium  or  potassium,  either  in  the 
form  of  chlorides  or  carbonates,  are  difficult  to  treat.  In  fact,  neither  sodium  nor 
potassium  salts  can  be  removed  from  a  water  except  by  distillation,  but  a  water 
containing  these  salts  may  be  greatly  improved,  and  rendered  fit  for  boiler  use,  by 
the  removal  of  the  other  salts  which  the  water  contains. 


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PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Early  Methods 

IN  the  early  days  of  the  steam  boiler  the  scaling  of  boilers  was 
one  of  the  engineer’s  greatest  bugbears  and  many  were  the  ex¬ 
periments  tried  in  a  desperate  efifort  to  overcome  it. 

Almost  everything  that  came  to  hand  was  at  one  time  or  another 
thrown  into  a  boiler  as  an  antidote  for  this  evil,  chips  of  wood,  bark, 
sacks  of  potatoes  or  anything  that  happened  to  suggest  itself  to  the 
mind  of  the  sorely  tried  engineer. 

From  these  miscellaneous  experiments  it  was  discovered  that  cer¬ 
tain  chemical  changes  were  effected  that  in  some  manner  reduced  the 
formation  of  hard  scale,  and  certain  mixtures  of  chemicals  were  com¬ 
pounded  which  greatly  relieved  the  difficulties. 

This  resulted  in  a  regular  business  of  supplying  these  mixtures 
being  developed,  and  for  years  boiler  compounds  were  accepted  as  the 
extent  of  relief  that  could  be  expected.  However,  many  waters  would 
not  be  materially  affected ;  and  even  when  this  hard  scale  was  in  a 
manner  arrested,  there  remained  the  sludge  which  with  the  added 
chemicals  was  largely  increased  and  remained  still  in  the  boiler,  doing- 
in  some  cases  as  much  damage  as  the  scale. 

This  lead  to  the  use  of  devices  for  the  mechanical  removal  of  the 
precipitated  matter,  such  as  surface  blow-off,  circulating  extractors 
and  finally  the  live  steam  purifier. 

This  was  the  most  satisfactory  of  any,  provided  a  place  for  the 
precipitation  to  take  place  previous  to  the  water  entering  the  boiler, 
but,  connected  to  it  so  that  it  was  subject  to  the  same  temperature 
as  the  boiler.  About  ten  years  ago,  the  present  method  of  softening- 
water  was  first  advocated  and  is  now  recognized  as  the  only  scientific 
process  of  purifying  boiler  waters. 


9 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


10 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Modern  Methods 


The  method  now  recognized  as  the  only  scientific  one  of  puri¬ 
fying  hard  water  to  remove  the  scale-forming  matter,  is  the 
Porter-Clark  process,  but  only  in  recent  years  has  the  value 
of  it  been  appreciated. 

By  its  use  many  waters  are  now  satisfactorily  used  in  boilers  that 
were  formerly  unavailable,  and  in  many  localities  it  was  necessary  to 
purchase  water  from  cities  at  considerable  cost,  while  having  a  plenti¬ 
ful  supply  immediately  at  hand  from  well  or  spring  that  can  now  be 
softened  at  an  expense  of  one  or  two  cents  per  thousand  gallons. 

The  process  now  used  is  a  method  of  precipitating  the  carbonates 
and  sulphates  of  lime  and  magnesia  found  in  water  by  the  introduc¬ 
tion  of  lime  and  soda  ash  in  the  required  quantities  and  in  an  appa¬ 
ratus  designed  so  as  to  provide  for  the  proper  application  of  solutions 
of  these  substances  and  providing  storage  capacity  for  the  chemical 
reactions  followed  by  precipitation  to  take  place ;  after  which  the 
water  is  filtered  and  ready  for  use. 

These  apparatus  are  built  in  many  designs,  some  extremely  com¬ 
plicated  and  with  a  mass  of  small  easily  deranged  parts  requiring  con¬ 
stant  care  and  attention  to  insure  proper  working. 

The  ideal  apparatus  is  one  in  which  is  combined  all  the  essential 
features  necessary  for  the  correct  mixing  of  the  reagent  solutions ; 
their  application  to  the  water  to  be  treated  in  accurate  proportions, 
ample  time  for  reaction  and  precipitation  to  take  place  together  with 
simplicity  in  operation  and  freedom  from  complicated  working  parts. 

Our  long  and  varied  experience  has  enabled  us  to  design  ap})a- 
ratus  fulfilling  all  these  conditions,  and  we  feel  convinced  that  an  in¬ 
vestigation  of  our  apparatus  will  result  in  the  complete  demonstration 
of  the  truth  of  this  assertion. 


11 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


View  of  Precipitating  Tanks,  Cleveland  Furnace  Company,  Cleveland,  Ohio 
300,000  Gallon  Intermittent  Water  Softening  Plant 


12 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Economy  of  Water  Softening 


The  use  of  soft,  pure  water  is  desirable  for  any  use  to  which 
water  may  be  put  and  for  most  uses  is  necessary  if  the  best 
results  are  to  be  obtained  in  the  boiler  room,  in  the  laundry, 
in  the  drying,  bleaching  and  woolen  mills,  paper  mills,  ice  factories, 
breweries,  railroad  water  stations  and  for  all  domestic  purposes,  even 
drinking  and  cooking.  Well  waters,  in  their  natural  condition,  unfit 
for  use,  can  at  a  small  cost  be  rendered  soft  and  pure  and  suitable  for 
any  purpose,  saving  large  water  bills,  repair  bills,  fuel  and  labor  in 
many  localities  amounting  to  thousands  of  dollars  annually. 

Advise  us  of  your  condition,  send  us  analysis  of  your  water  and 
we  will  tell  you  how  to  save  money  for  dividends. 


13 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  jM  ANUFAC  PURI  HG  COMPANY 


14 


View  of  Filters  Cleveland  Furnace  Company,  Cleveland,  Ohio 

300,000  Gallon  Intermittent  Water  Softening  Plant 


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Notice  to  Readers 


In  issuing  this  pamphlet  to  the  public  we  desire 
to  call  attention  to  the  fadt  that  there  is  being  circulated 
by  a  certain  Filter  Company  organized  by  a  former 
employee,  a  catalogue  which  is  practically  a  duplicate 
of  an  obsolete  issue  of  ours,  but  which  contains  many 
cuts  of  plants  constructed  and  erected  by  this  Company 
and  illustrated  in  these  pages. 

We  feel  that  such  misrepresentation,  when 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  fair-minded  persons,  will 
be  sufficient  punishment  to  its  perpetrators,  and  simply 

I 

desire  to  advise  you  that  you  may,  when  comparing 
circular  matter  received,  readily  decide  whether  or  not 
such  methods  meet  your  approval. 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MFG.  COMPANY. 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Steam  Plant  Economy 

The  benefit  of  a  pure  soft  water  in  boiler  plants  is  but  slightly 
comprehended  by  the  average  manufacturer,  keen  as  he  is  in 
the  general  economy  which  goes  to  swell  the  dividend 

account. 

Many  thousands  are  spent  in  the  installation  of  economical  de¬ 
vices  in  the  steam  plant,  expensive  water  tube  boilers,  economizers, 
heaters,  condensers  and  compound  engines,  all  designed  to  extract  the 
very  highest  amount  of  power  from  each  pound  of  coal  burned ;  then 
the  very  object  for  which  all  these  expensive  apparatus  were  installed 
is  often  defeated  by  the  use  of  a  hard  scale  producing  water  in  the 
boilers.  How  should  you  expect  economy  with  your  sheets  and 
tubes  covered  with  from  one-eighth  to  one-fonrth  of  an  inch  of  non¬ 
conducting  material,  which  prevents  the  absorption  of  heat  by  the 
^  water  and  sends  it  up  the  chimney? 

Let  ns  take  for  instance  an  average  hard  water  containing  14 
grains  of  incrnsting  matter  per  U.  S.  Gallons,  a  1,000  horse  power 
boiler  plant  will  evaporate  100,000  gallons  of  water  each  24  hours, 
each  gallon  containing  14  grains  of  incrnsting  matter,  there  would 
remain  in  the  boiler  at  the  end  of  the  day  200  lbs.  of  scale;  in  two 
weeks  (12  working  days)  this  would  be  2,400  lbs.  or  i  1/5  tons.  In 
300  working  days  30  tons  of  solid  matter. 


15 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


The  average  coal  consumption  per  horse  power  is  about  4 
lbs.  per  horse  power  per  hour,  or  for  1,000  horse  power, 
48  tons  per  day.  This  at  $1.50  per  ton,  equals  $72.00.  Five 
(5)  per  cent,  of  this  would  be  a  small  saving  but  would 

equal  $3.60  per  day,  or  300  working  days . 

Cost  of  boiler  cleaning  on  this  w^ater  at  least  $12.00  per 

week,  or . 

Average  yearly  cost  of  repairs  for  tubes,  etc . 

For  boiler  compounds,  average  per  year  based  on  practice  .  . 
For  coal  m  raising  steam  after  cleaning  104  tons,  $1.56  .  . 
Depreciation  of  boiler  plant  based  on  average  life  of  boilers 
in  waters  of  this  character,  10^  on  cost  of  $15,000.00  .  . 


With  softening  plant: 

10^  interest  and  depreciation  on  softening  plant 


at  cost  of  $3,500.00 . $  350.00 

5^  depreciation  on  boiler  ])lant .  750.00 

Cost  of  softening  at  ic  1,000  gal .  300.00 

Cost  of  coal  for  steam  after  washing  t6  tons  .  .  24.00 


Saving . 

Nearly  75  per  cent,  of  cost  of  plant  or  enough  to  pay 
(lend  on  $40,200.00 — Won’t  this  pay? 


$1,080.00 

650.00 

200.00 

250.00 

156.00 

1,500.00 

$3,836-00 


1 ,424.00 

$2,412.00 
,  6^  divi- 


16 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Ice  Factories,  Breweries  and  Distilleries 

WHERE  pure  live  steam  is  used  in  process  of  manufacturing, 
as  an  ice  making,  brewing  and  distilling,  water  softening 
plants  should  be  of  particular  interest.  Here  the  con¬ 
tamination  that  may  be  imparted  to  the  steam  by  the  use  of  nostrous 
chemicals  called  boiler  compounds  may  ruin  thousands  of  dollars 
worth  of  product  and  do  untold  damage  to  a  business  reputation. 
Neither,  however,  can  the  water  be  used  in  its  raw  state  in  the  boilers 
without  great  loss  in  fuel  and  repairs. 

The  materials  used  in  precipitating  the  impurities  are  neither 
valuable  nor  injurious,  therefore,  cannot  affect  the  steam,  while  on  the 
other  hand  the  process  of  softening  will  not  only  take  out  the  mineral 
matter  in  solution,  but,  incidentally,  any  matter  in  suspension,  as  well 
as  organic  matter  Avhich  the  natural  water  may  contain,  rendering  it 
not  only  soft  but  pure  also. 

There  are  many  places  in  the  ice  factories  and  breweries  outside 
of  the  boiler  plant  where  soft  water  is  a  very  great  advantage.  Eor 
fermenting,  making  beer,  the  preparation  of  malt,  process  of  ice-mak¬ 
ing,  and  for  cooling  purposes,  in  many  plants  the  accumulation  of 
deposit  on  condenser  coils  being  so  great  as  to  require  the  pumping 
of  many  times  the  amount  of  water  that  should  be  required  for  the 
purpose.  Whatever  may  be  your  water  trouble,  come  to  us  with  it. 
That’s  our  business. 


17 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


The  Colorado  Fuel  &  Iron  Company 

Have  installed  at  their  iMinneqna  Works  a  Continuous  Water  Softening  Plant, 
capable  of  supplying  water  for  10,000  Horse  Power  of  boilers.  The  water 
supply  is  taken  from  the  “Bessemer  Ditch”  and  contains  the 

following  impurities : 

Raw  Water 

Grains  per  Gallon 


Sodium  Chloride .  1.39 

Calcium  Sulphate . 27.76 

^Magnesium  Sulphate .  1.88 

^lagnesium  Carbonate .  5.49 

Total  Solids . 36.52 


Purified  Water 

Grains  per  Gallon 


Sodium  Chloride .  1.26 

Calcium  Sulphate .  i.oi 

Magnesium  Sulphate .  2.18 


Total  Hardness .  4.45 


18 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


19 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Laundry  Plants 


IN  addition  to  the  saving  elYected  by  the  use  of  soft  water  in  boilers,  it  is  an  im¬ 
portant  item  of  economy  in  many  industries.  Laundries,  for  example,  can 
effect  a  material  saving  by  using  soft  water.  Each  grain  of  lime  in  one  gallon 
of  water  produces  what  is  called  one  degree  of  hardness.  Each  degree  of  hardness 
destroys  1.7  pounds  of  the  best  hard  soap  before  a  lather  is  produced  in  1,000  gallons 
of  water,  and  leaves  an  insoluble  curd,  which  becomes  entangled  in  the  fabrics 
washed,  and  cannot  be  removed  by  rinsing.  The  heat  of  the  iron  decomposes  these 
curds  and  leaves  brownish  soap  spots  on  the  goods. 

The  following  table  shows  the  comparative  amounts  of  soap  required  to  pro¬ 
duce  a  permanent  lather  in  waters  of  different  degrees  of  hardness  and  the  saving 
effected  by  the  use  of  soft  water : 


Degrees  of  Hardxess 
5 

10 

15 

20 

25 


Pounds  Soap  Destroyed 
PER  1,000  Gallons 

8.5 

17.0 

25-5 

34-0 

42.5 


Cost  of  Soap  at  5  Cents 
PER  Pound 

$0.41 

0.82 

1.23 

1.64 

2.05 


Goods  washed  in  softened  water  are  cleansed  with  a  minimum  amount  of  soap, 
are  much  finer  and  whiter  in  appearance  and  softer  in  texture,  while  no  dark  color 
appears.  The  saving  in  soap  will  amount  in  many  cases  to  50  and  60%. 


Analysis  of  Water  Used 

The  ]\Iorey-La  Rue  Steam  Laundry,  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 


Before 

Purification 

Sodium  Chloride.  .  .  . 

.  546 

grains 

per 

U.  S. 

gal. 

Sodium  Sulphate.  .  .  . 

.  2.67 

H 

(( 

a 

66 

Calcium  Sulphate.  .  . 

. 19.72 

u 

6i 

66 

66 

Magnesium  Sulphate. 

.  4-49 

a 

ii 

6  6 

66 

IMagnesium  Carbonate.  ... 

. 34 

a 

i  k 

66 

66 

Aluminum  Oxide.  .  . 

. 23 

6i 

a 

66 

66 

Silica . 

.  1-51 

a 

iC 

66 

66 

Organic  and  Volatile 

Matter 

. 13 

a 

** 

66 

66 

Total  Solids.  .  .  . 

After 

Purification 

Lime . 

.  1.69 

grains 

per 

u.  s. 

gal. 

IMagnesia . 

.  2.60 

iC 

6C 

66 

Total  Hardness.  . 

.  4.29 

20 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


21 


100,000  Gallon  Intermittent  Water  Softening  Plant  Morey-La  Rue  Laundry,  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Description  of  the  Largest  Water  Softening 

Plant  in  the  World 

- at  the - 

Tennessee  Coal,  Iron  &  Railway  Co.,  Ensley,  Alabama 


cut  on  the  following  page  shows  the  largest  water  softening  plant  in  the- 
I  world.  This  apparatus  purifies  the  water  from  Village  Creek,  a  stream 
consisting  of  pollution  only,  for  35,ckdo  horse  power  of  boilers.  The  site 
selected  for  this  plant  was  topographically  perfect,  inasmuch  as  the  purified  water 
flows  by  gravity  to  the  various  industries  in  and  around  Ensley  and  Pratt  City. 

The  entire  apparatus  is  of  steel  construction.  There  are  four  precipitating 
tanks,  30  ft.  in  diameter  and  30  ft.  high  (exclusive  of  the  sludge  bottom).  They 
are  mounted  on  pipe  columns  8  feet  above  the  foundation  piers,  which  allow  ample 
room  for  removing  the  precipitated  deposits.  The  stairs  and  platform  are  located' 
between  the  tanks  and  afford  access  to  all  of  them ;  but  as  the  operation  of  tlie 
entire  plant  is  accomplished  from  the  ground,  it  is  not  necessary  to  go  up  on  top  of 
the  plant  for  its  manipulation.  Each  tank  is  filled  through  a  16-inch  line  from  the- 
Company’s  pumping  plant  on  Village  Creek,  and  is  emptied  through  a  floating  outlet 
spout  located  in  each  tank,  which  draws  the  clear  water  from  the  top  without  dis¬ 
turbing  the  precipitate. 

The  devices  employed  for  introducing  the  reagents  into  the  raw  water  consists- 
of  four  solution  tanks  5  feet  in  diameter  and  5  feet  high,  equipped  with  slaking  and. 
agitating  apparatus.  There  are  two  Weinman  pumps  which  introduce  the  lime  and 
soda  solution  into  the  raw  water,  proportional  to  the  flow.  The  plant  being  in 
duplicate  admits  of  one  batch  of  solution  being  prepared  while  the  other  is  being 
used. 

The  chemicals  are  mixed  with  the  raw  water  by  compressed  air.  This  method 
is  used  exclusively  by  us  and  involves  the  most  positive  and  uniform  admixture. 
The  air  is  furnished  by  a  Rand  Compressor,  which  maintains  a  pressure  of  20  to  25, 
pounds  in  the  receiver. 


22 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


23 


Largest  Water  Softening  Plant  in  the  World  Tennessee  Coal,  Iron  &  Railway  Co.,  Ensley,  Ala. 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


There  are  two  filters  20  feet  inside  diameter  and  7  feet  6  inches  high,  equipped 
with  agitators.  They  have  false  bottoms,  to  which  the  strainers  are  attached.  The' 
strainer  system  is  the  Compan}-^  usual  bronze  strainer,  and  each  filter  contains 
1,256  gallons.  On  top  of  these  strainers  is  placed  6  inches  of  gravel  and  36  inches- 
of  Birmingham  Filter  Sand. 

An  Ajax  Center  Crank  Engine  operates  the  stirring  devices  in  the  filters,  which 
require  washing  once  each  week. 

A  clear  water  basin,  holding  18,000  gallons  of  water,  is  built  under  the  filters,, 
inside  the  building,  and  contains  filtered  water  for  washing  the  filters. 

A  wash-out  pump,  with  a  capacity  of  2,000  gallons  per  minute,  is  used  for  sup¬ 
plying  wash  water  to  the  filters. 

Gauges  and  Electric  Annunciators  warn  the  operator  when  the  precipitating^ 
tanks  are  full  of  water  and  give  him  ample  time  to  close  the  valves  before  the  tanks 
overflow. 

All  the  pipe  and  fittings  used  are  cast-iron,  flanged  with  bolt  and  gaskets,  and 
all  overhanging  pipes  are  supported  on  steel  trusses. 

There  are  two  operators  at  this  plant,  each  having  a  12-honr  turn.  These  two 
men  test  the  ^\ater  and  treat  each  tank  as  it  requires.  The  very  frequent  changes  in 
the  qualit}'  of  the  water  make  these  tests  an  absolute  necessity. 

Cost  per  Thousand  Gallons 

An  official  report  places  the  average  cost  of  the  chemicals,  covering  a  period  of 
six  months,  at  2  cents  per  thousand  gallons. 

Results 

In  the  annual  report  of  President  Bacon,  of  the  Tennessee  Coal,  Iron  &  Railway- 
Company,  published  in  the  Iron  I'rade  Review,  we  find  the  following; 

“A  water  purifying  plant  has  been  placed  in  service  at  the  Ensley  Furnaces 
and  has  reduced  the  fuel  consumption,  increased  the  efficiency  of  the  boilers  and 
decreased  the  repairs  heretofore  necessary.” 


24 


PITTSBURGH 


FILTER 


MANUFACTURING 


COMPANY 


25 


170,000  Gallons  of  Water  Agitated  wnth  Compresced  Air  T.  C.,  1.  &  Ry.  Co.,  Ensley,  Ala, 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


26 


250,000  Gallon  Water  Softening  Plant 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Railway  Economy 


The  Committee  on  Water  Service  of  the  American  Railway, 
Engineering  &  Maintenance  of  Way  Association,  in  report¬ 
ing  on  the  question  of  Water  Softening,  summarizes  as 

follows  : 

I.  Hard  scale  and  corrosion  avoided. 

2.  Less  fuel  consumed. 

3.  Decreased  boiler  repairs. 

4.  More  time  in  service. 

5.  More  satisfactory  service. 

6.  Eewer  boilers  in  service. 

7.  Longer  life  of  boilers. 

To  this  may  be  added  several  other  items  : 

Large  decrease  in  investment  of  locomotive  equipment. 

Less  round-house  and  repair  shop  room  required. 

Large  increase  in  ton  mileage  per  locomotive. 

On  one  section  of  a  certain  western  railroad  it  is  claimed  that 
about  fifty  per  cent,  of  the  locomotive  equipment  is  in  the  shop  con¬ 
tinually  on  account  of  bad  water.  The  money  invested  in  two  or 
three  of  these  engines  would  pay  the  cost  of  equipping  the  division 
with  water  softening  plants  and  release  for  service  the  full  equipment. 
One  Superintendent  of  Motive  Power  reports  that  by  the  use  of 
softening  plants  he  has  decreased  boiler  repairs  to  one-half  of  what 
they  were  before.  Another  official  says  that  by  the  use  of  soft  water 
he  has  been  able  to  maintain  prompt  and  rapid  movement  of  trains. 
Another  report  covering  a  period  of  time  on  a  division  of  road  equip¬ 
ped  with  softening  plants  shows  the  number  of  engines  in  service  was 
nine  per  cent,  less,  mileage  eleven  per  cent,  more,  and  the  coal  con¬ 
sumed  five  per  cent,  less  than  during  the  same  period  before  being 
supplied  with  softening  plants. 

The  American  Railway  Master  ^Mechanic  Association  reports  that 
the  use  of  hard  water  costs  $750.00  per  annum  for  every  locomotive 
in  the  Middle  and  Western  states,  in  fuel,  boiler  repairs,  etc.  Why 
continue  this  enormous  waste  of  money?  Invest  a  small  portion  in 
water  softening  plants  and  pay  out  the  balance  in  dividends. 

Wt  build  the  most  efficient  in  results  and  simple  in  operation. 


27 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


28 


A  Model  Water  Softening  Plant 
Delaware,  Lackawanna  &  Western  R.  R.,  Bath, 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


29 


Intermittent  Water  Softening  Plants  on  D.,  L.  &  W.  Ry.  Groveland  and  East  Bethany, 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


30 


Buffalo,  Rochester  and  Pittsburgh  Railway  Co.  Punxsutawney  Pa 

300,000  Gallon  Water  Softening  Plant 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Types  of  Plant 


WE  build  several  different  types  and  designs  of  plants,  each 
having  their  peculiar  points  of  advantage  for  certain  con¬ 
ditions.  Our  long  and  varied  experience  enables  us  to 
design  plants  to  meet  any  peculiar  local  conditions,  embracing  such 
features  as  will  give  the  most  satisfactory  results  at  the  least  cost 
for  installation  and  operation, 

W^e  build  both  the  Intermittent  and  Continuous  Process  plants, 
for  either  hot  or  cold  water,  of  steel,  wood,  or  concrete  construction, 
of  any  capacity  required  from  a  few  thousand  gallons  daily  capacity 
to  millions  of  gallons. 

Our  plants  are  designed  with  a  view  of  combining  the  very  high¬ 
est  efficiency  with  the  greatest  simplicity  in  care  and  operation.  Our 
capacities  are  generous,  providing  ample  elasticity  and  the  construc¬ 
tion  of  the  best  type  of  material  and  workmanship  of  their  respective 
kinds. 

If  you  desire  a  plant  for  Railroad  Water  Station  use,  industrial 
or  municipal  purposes,  do  not  fail  to  consult  us.  We  will  make  anal¬ 
ysis  of  your  water  and  recommend  the  type  of  plant  best  suited  to 
your  needs. 

We  build  but  one  kind — The  best. 


31 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


PROPORTIONAL  WATER  MOTOR 

For  the  introduction  of  a  coagulant  or  precipitant  proportional  to  the  flow  of  raw  water — 
the  most  perfect  device  in  the  world  for  the  purpose 
(Patent  applied  for) 


32 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Description  of  the  Pittsburgh  Filter  Manufac¬ 
turing  Company’s  Intermittent 
Water  Softening  Plant 


A  SAMPLE  of  raw  water  is  tested  to  determine  the  amount  of  chemicals  re¬ 
quired  per  thousand  gallons,  and  by  referring  to  the  table  of  standards  fur¬ 
nished  by  us  the  amount  of  material  for  each  tank  of  water  is  found.  The 
chemicals  are  weighed  out  carefully  for  each  tank  and  dissolved  in  the  lime  and 
soda  tanks. 

The  raw  water  to  be  purified  passes  into  either  of  the  settling  tanks,  “AA,” 
through  inlet  pipe  “BB.”  While  a  tank  is  being  filled  with  water  the  solution  pump, 
“C,”  delivers  lime  solution  from  the  solution  tank,  “D,”  through  the  line,  “E,”  into 
this  tank  of  water.  When  the  water  is  within  two  feet  of  the  top,  the  soda  ash  is  in¬ 
troduced  in  the  same  manner  from  solution  tank,  “F.”  When  the  chemicals  have 
been  added  the  water  is  thoroughly  agitated  with  air  from  the  air  receiver,  “G,” 
where  a  pressure  of  lo  to  15  pounds  of  air  is  maintained  with  the  compressor,  “H.” 

Uniform  agitation  of  the  water  in  the  tank  is  accomplished  through  the  agitator 
rings,  “I,”  for  fifteen  (15)  minutes,  or  longer,  and  the  water  is  allowed  to  settle 
for  one  hour,  or  more,  depending  on  the  quality  of  same.  It  then  passes  out  through 
the  floating  outlet  spout,  “J,”  through  the  filters,  “L-L,”  into  the  clear  water  well 
or  other  point  of  delivery. 

When  one  tank  is  being  emptied  of  the  purified  water  the  other  one  is  being 
prepared  for  use.  Each  tank  of  water  is  tested  after  it  has  been  treated  and  the 
amount  of  impurities  determined.  If  it  is  not  right  a  sufficient  amount  of  material 
is  added  to  make  the  correction,  and  no  water  is  allowed  to  enter  your  boilers, 
road-side  tubs  or  other  point  of  delivery  until  it  has  been  found  to  be  absolutely 
right,  and  a  uniform  supply  is  always  maintained  by  this  system,  no  matter  if  the 
water  changes  every  da}^ 

This  plant  is  operated  from  the  ground,  and  it  is  not  necessary  to  go  up  on  the 
tanks  at  any  time  during  the  process  of  treatment. 

The  building  which  houses  the  filter  plant  and  treating  apparatus  is  of  suf¬ 
ficient  size  to  carry  thirty  (30)  days’  supply  of  chemicals  for  treatment. 


33 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


34 


General  Plan  Intermittent  Water  Softening  Plant 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


The  Pittsburgh  Continuous  Water 

Softening  Plant 


The  Pittsburgh  S^'stem  consists  of  automatically  treating  varying  quantities  of 
water  with  varying  quantities  of  materials  in  an  automatic  apparatus,  pro¬ 
portional  to  the  flow  of  water. 

The  apparatus  is  continuous  in  its  action,  automa-tically  starting  and  stopping 
with  the  beginning  and  ceasing  of  the  flow  of  water  into  the  apparatus. 

The  water  is  pumped  but  once  into  the  machine,  and  is  delivered  at  the  bottom 
with  the  machinery  always  in  sight.  The  water,  as  it  flows  into  the  Softener, 
furnishes  all  the  power  the  apparatus  requires  for  mixing  the  chemicals  properly 
with  the  water  to  be  purified,  as  well  as  for  operating  automatically  all  the  mechan¬ 
ism  of  the  plant. 

After  the  impurities  in  the  water  to  be  treated  have  been  precipitated  from  the 
water  by  the  chemical  reagents,  they  are  removed  from  the  water  as  it  passes 
through  the  apparatus,  and  the  purified  water  overflows  from  the  top  of  Softener 
by  gravity  into  the  storage  tank,  without  the  necessity  of  re-pumping. 

In  this  style  of  plant  all  of  the  operating  parts  are  located  upon  the  ground 
level.  There  are  no  small  and  delicate  mechanism,  piping,  floats,  etc.,  up  in  the 
air,  where  they  cannot  be  observed,  and  subject  to  derangement  by  weather  condi¬ 
tions,  freezing,  etc.,  no  slippery  steps  or  ladders  to  climb  or  barrels  of  reagent  to 
hoist. 

The  chemicals  are  mixed  and  applied  below  by  positive  automatic  apparatus' 
which  cannot  get  out  of  gear  or  be  put  out  of  service  by  freezing.  As  long  as  the 
water  is  supplied  the  machine  works  in  all  its  parts. 

We  build  this  machine  in  two  styles.  Type  “A,”  elevated  upon  a  substructure, 
with  the  operating  parts  placed  below  and  enclosed  in  the  same  diameter  as  the 
apparatus ;  this  forms  a  complete  self-contained  plant,  very  handsome  in  appearance. 

Type  “B,”  having  the  operating  parts  set  to  on  e  side  of  the  main  apparatus. 
This  machine  is  somewhat  less  expensive  in  cost,  b  ut  takes  up  a  little  more  room 
in  installation. 


35 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Continuous  Water  Softener  on  Substructive  Type  A  Steel  Construction 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


TYPE  A  CONTINUOUS  SOFTENER 


37 


PLAIN  SECTIONS  TYPE  A  CONTINUOUS  SOFTENERS 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


38 


Section  operating  room  beneath  apparatus  Section  top  showing  mixing  and  baffle  chambers 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


39 


p- 


Continuous  Water  Softener,  Steel  or  Wood  Construction 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


40 


Plan  Type  B  Continuous  Softener  Showing  Arrangement  of  Operating  Parts 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Pittsburgh  Hot  Water  Softener 

This  type  of  plant  is  designed  where  space  is  considerably  of 
an  object  and  where  hot  water  is  available  for  purifying.  It 
is  simple  in  construction,  efficient  in  results  and  inexpensive 
in  cost  and  cannot  be  used  successfully  on  anything  but  very  hot 
water. 

By  the  use  of  hot  water  chemical  reactions  are  very  considerably 
hastened  and  this  enables  the  design  of  a  plant  to  go  in  a  minimum 
of  space. 

We  have  many  of  these  plants  in  use  giving  most  excellent  re¬ 
sults,  where  the  conditions  are  such  as  allow  of  these  installations. 

Hot  or  cold  we  can  supply  your  requirements.  Write  for  further 
information. 


4! 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


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42 


1,000  H.  P.  Water  Softening  Plant  for  Hot  Water  Use 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Water  Softened  for  Municipalities 


N  the  last  few  years  the  softening  of  hard  waters  for  industrial 
purposes  has  grown  to  a  business  of  large  proportions  until 
now  there  are  in  use  hundreds  of  plants  for  this  purpose,  many 
running  into  millions  of  gallons  daily  capacity. 

The  saving  in  the  softening  of  these  waters  amounts  to  thousands 
of  dollars  annually  to  manufacturers.  If  we  add  to  the  saving  made 
in  all  in  the  use  of  softening  plants,  that  which  accrue  in  all  domestic 
uses,  such  as  soap,  linen,  range  repairs,  etc.,  in  cities  using  hard  water 
supplies,  the  ultimate  saving  would  be  astonishing;  no  better  returns 
can  be  secured  from  the  same  investment  in  any  industry;  no  better 
inducement  can  be  offered  tO'  factories  seeking  new  locations  than 
soft  water. 

We  believe  municipalities  having  this  problem  to  contend  with 
will  soon  begin  to  appreciate  the  benefits,  and  those  early  taking  steps 
to  install  softening  plants  will  secure  the  greatest  increase  in  manu¬ 
facturing  interests.  Already  the  City  of  Oberlin,  Ohio,  has  such  a 
plant  in  operation  and  soon  others  will  follow. 

Wq  are  pioneers  in  the  installation  of  water  softening  plants  and 
are  prepared  to  construct  plants  of  any  required  capacity. 

If  you  have  a  hard  water  it  will  pay  you  to  communicate  with  us. 


43 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Our  Facilities 


WE  are  prepared  to  make  complete  chemical  analyses  of 
water  and  reports  on  the  most  suitable  methods  of  treat¬ 
ment  in  each  individual  case  by  one  of  our  staff  of 
chemists,  giving  you  the  benefit  of  the  most  expert  advice. 

Our  engineering  department  will  prepare  plans  and  estimates 
to  meet  your  most  difficult  requirements,  for  the  construction  of  plants 
as  economical  in  cost  as  consistent  with  the  best  engineering  practice. 

are  prepared  to  build  complete  or  equip  plants  of  any  desired 
capacity  in  the  shortest  time,  and  lowest  cost  consistent  with  good 
workmanship  and  material.  Our  facilities  for  manufacturing  equip¬ 
ment  are  unexcelled  and  our  plant  for  construction  work  embraces 
everything  necessary  for  convenience  and  dispatch  in  prosecuting 
work  of  this  character. 

We  are  ready  to  assume  the  entire  responsibility  and  deliver  to 
you  a  completed  plant  of  whatever  size  you  may  require,  ready  for 
daily  operation,  producing  the  purest  of  water  obtainable. 

Write  for  any  information  desired. 


44 


PITTSBURGH’  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Design  of  Plant 


WATER  softening  and  filtration  plants,  to  secure  efficient 
and  economical  results,  must  be  correctly  designed  in 
every  detail,  and  in  order  to  do  this  a  full  knowledge,  not 
only  of  all  conditions  for  each  particular  locality  is  required,  but  of 
every  vital  principle  of  design  and  construction  of  the  work  in  general, 
in  order  to  intelligently  apply  these  principles  to  local  conditions. 
This  knowledge  is  only  gained  as  a  result  of  long  experience  and 
years  of  careful  study  devoted  exclusively  to  this  particular  branch  of 
engineering.  The  apparent  simplicity  of  constructing  a  purification 
plant  has,  in  the  past,  proven  so  delusive  that  municipalities  and  in¬ 
dividuals  are  becoming  weary  of  employing  inexperienced  manufac¬ 
turers  in  the  installation  of  a  work  of  such  recognized  importance  as 
the  purification  of  water. 

We  have  spent  many  yearsAh/i^  and  large  sums  of  money  in  gain¬ 
ing  this  knowledge  and  experience  and  are  prepared  with  a  corps  of 
the  most  competent  engineers  to  design  or  construct  purification 
works  of  any  capacity,  embracing  every  feature  necessary  for  the 
highest  efficiency  and  economy  known  to  modern  practice  for  either 
municipal  or  industrial  purposes.  If  you  are  considering  the  installa¬ 
tion  of  a  plant,  you  should  not  fail  to  communicate  with  us. 


45 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Description  of  Pittsburgh  Gravity  Filters 

These  filters  are  built  in  sizes  from  five  to  twenty  feet  in  di¬ 
ameter,  and  while  usually  built  of  cypress  wood,  may  be  con¬ 
structed  of  steel  or  concrete.  They  are  most  suitable  for 
small  cities,  hospitals,  public  institutions,  paper  mills  or  other  in¬ 
dustrial  purposes. 

They  are  equipped  with  our  standard  manifold  screen  system  and 
screens,  the  design  of  these  screens  and  system  of  placing  them  is  the 
result  of  exhaustive  experiments  on  many  designs  to  determine  the 
most  thorough  and  economical  use  of  water  for  washing  purposes  and 
to  secure  the  nearest  perfect  draft  on  all  parts  of  the  bed  in  filtering. 
The  troughs  for  carrying  off  the  wash-water  are  of  ample  capacity 
to  insure  the  weir  effect  necessary  to  wash  bed  in  the  shortest  time 
and  at  least  expense  of  wash-water. 

We  use  in  our  filters  the  best  grade  of  filter  sand  obtainable,  es¬ 
pecially  mined,  and  graded  for  this  purpose. 

They  are  equipped  with  the  best  type  of  gate  valves,  controlling 
the  inlet,  outlet,  and  wash-water  supply.  The  inlet  is  supplied  with 
a  controlling  float  valve  to  regulate  the  supply  to  filter. 

We  build  these  filters  equipped  with  the  standard  rake  agitator 
operated  by  gears  and  belts  or  with  our  system  of  air  agitation,  as 
may  be  most  convenient  or  desirable.  With  our  system  of  air-wash, 
the  air  may  be  used  at  the  same  time  as  the  wash-water  or  independ- 
entlv,  as  desired. 

We  build  this  filter  in  the  belief  that  it  is  the  most  perfect  in 
design  and  construction,  simplest  in  operation,  most  efficient  in  re¬ 
sults  of  any  of  its  type  on  the  market. 

Prices  on  application. 

Send  for  special  filter  catalogue. 


46 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


PITTSBURGH  GRAVITY  FILTER 


WITH  MECHANICAL  AGITATION 


Furnished  F.  O.  B.  Cars  at  Pittsburgh,  or  Erected  in 

Place  at  Destination 


BUILT  OF  STEEL  OR  WOOD 


47 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Standard  Pressure  Filters 

For  smaller  quantities  of  water,  such  as  required  by  hotels, 
laundries,  boiler  plants,  ice  factories,  mills,  hospitals,  etc.,  our 
standard  vertical  type  of  pressure  filters  are  most  desirable, 
rendering  the  most  turbid  waters  clear  and  sparkling.  These  are 
built  in  capacities  of  from  6,000  to  150,000  gallons  per  day,  as  illus¬ 
trated  on  opposite  page. 

They  are  built  of  the  best  boiler  plate  steel,  of  ample  strength 
to  withstand  any  pressure  desired,  are  neat  and  compact  in  appear¬ 
ance  and  of  the  best  workmanship  and  material. 

The  strainers  are  of  our  standard  patented  designs,  bronze  screen, 
the  controlling  valve  our  improved  patented  design ;  latest  design 
alum  feed  cup  is  furnished  for  supply  pipe  and  the  best  grade  of  filter¬ 
ing  sand  (or  quartz)  supplied. 

AA  e  build  this  type  of  filter  either  with  or  without  agitator  as 
may  be  desired,  but  recomend  the  agitator  where  water  to  be  filtered 
carries  a  great  amount  of  suspended  matter. 

These  filters  are  all  arranged  with  a  weir  wash,  thus  insuring  the 
most  economical  amount  of  wash-water  in  cleansing. 

AA  e  generally  carry  this  type  of  filter  in  stock  and  can  supply  on 
short  notice,  at  a  reasonable  price. 

AA  e  also  build  horizontal  pressure  filters. 

Come  to  us  with  your  troubles. 


48 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


The  Pittsburgh  Filter  with  Horizontal  Geared  Agitator  from  30"  Diam.  Upwards 


49 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


50 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Partial  List  of  Water  Softening  Plants 


Steel 

and  Iron  Works 

Gallons. 

I 

Tennessee  Coal,  Iron  &  Ry.  Co.. 

Birmingham,  Ala . 

..2,500,000 

I 

American  Steel  &  Wire  Co..  .  . 

Cleveland,  Ohio . 

.  1,500,000 

H 

Colorado  Fuel  &  Iron  Co . 

Pueblo,  Colo . 

. .  500,000 

I 

Cleveland  Furnace  Co . 

Cleveland,  Ohio . 

.  300,000 

C 

Longmead  Iron  Co . 

.  Conshohocken,  Pa..  .  , 

. .  100,000 

I 

Georges  C.  Coal  &  Iron  Co..  .  . 

Farmington,  W.  Va.. 

60,000 

I 

National  Mall.  Casting  Co . 

Chicago,  Ill . 

60,000 

H 

Inland  Steel  Co . 

Chicago,  Ill . 

75,000 

H 

H.  B.  Camp  Co . 

Akron,  Ohio . 

Miscellaneous 

Gallons. 

I 

U.  S.  Zinc  Co . 

Pueblo,  Colo . 

30,000 

H 

Wickwire  Bros . . 

.Cortland,  N.  Y . 

.  100,000 

H 

Wickwire  Bros . . 

100,000 

H 

Ind.  Nat.  &  Ill.  Gas  Co . 

Indianapolis,  Ind . 

. .  1 50,000 

H 

Man.  Nat.  Gas  Co . 

. .  1 50,000 

H 

Nat.  Sugar  Mfg.  Co . 

Sugar  City,  Colo . 

.  200,000 

H 

Arcade  File  Works . 

Anderson,  Ind . 

60,000 

H 

Castalia  Portland  Cement  Co..  . 

Castalia,  Ohio . . 

. .  125,000 

H 

American  Plate  Glass  Co . 

Alexandria,  Ind . . 

. .  250,000 

H 

Ind.  Water  Company . 

Indianapolis,  Ind . 

. .  200,000 

H 

Hidalgo  Mining  Co . 

.  Pittsburgh,  Pa . 

t— 1 

b 

0 

0 

H 

Laflin  &  Rand  Powder  Co . 

Pompton  Lakes,  N.  J. 

80,000 

H 

Purington  Paving  Brick  Co..  .  . 

Galesburg,  Ill . . 

50,000 

H 

•  •  • 

80,000 

Note: 

I  Designates  intermittent  plant. 
H  Designates  hot  water  plant. 

C  Designates  continnons  plant. 


51 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Railroads 


Gallons. 

D.  L,  &  W.  R.  R.  Co . Groveland,  N.  Y . 100,000 

''  . East  Bethany,  N.  Y . 100,000 

. Bath,  N.  Y . 350,000 

Ashland  &  Wooster  R.  R . Ashland,  Ohio .  15,000 

B.  R.  &  P.  R.  R . Rochester,  N.  Y . 350,000 

Cincinnati  Northern  R.  R . Van  Wert,  Ohio .  60,000 

L.  V.  R.  R.  Co . Batavia,  N.  Y . 100,000 

. Rochester  Junction,  X.  Y..  .  .300,000 

. Maxwells,  N.  Y . 200,000 

. Stafford,  N.  Y . 350,000 


52 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


Partial  List  of  Municipal  Filtration 
Plants  Installed  by  Us 

Gallons. 

Columbia,  Pa . 2,000,000 

Sharon,  Pa . 2,000,000 

Washington,  Pa .  4,000,000 

Waynesburg,  Pa .  1,000,000 

Siinbury,  Pa .  4,000,000 

New  Brighton,  Pa .  3,000,000 

Harrisburg,  Pa . 12,000,000 

Monessen,  Pa .  1,500,000 

Conneaut,  Ohio .  500,000 

Upper  Sandusky,  Ohio .  500,000 

Oberlin,  Ohio .  300,000 

Vermillion,  Ohio .  300,000 

Sidney,  N.  Y .  300,000 

Trenton,  Mo .  500,000 

Elberton,  Ga .  500,000 

Greenville,  N.  C .  300,000 

Morgantown,  W.  Va .  1,000,000 

Gloucester,  N.  J .  2,000,000 

Danville,  Va .  2,000,000 

Louisburg,  N.  C .  300,000 


53 


PITTSBURGH  FILTER  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 


TO  SAVE  TIME  WHEN  WRITING 
FOR  ESTIMATES,  KINDLY  GIVE 
US  THE  FOLLOWING  INFOR¬ 
MATION  IF  POSSIBLE 


1.  What  is  the  source  of  supply,  lake,  river  or  well? . 

2.  Is  the  water  turbid  (contain  mud  or  clay)? . 

3.  Is  the  water  colored  (from  swamp  or  vegetable  matter)  ? . 

4.  Is  the  water  hard  or  soft? . 

5.  If  you  have  an  analysis  send  copy . 

6.  For  what  is  the  purified  water  to  be  used? . 

7.  Does  the  water  contain  sewer  drainage? . 

8.  What  type  of  filter  plant  do  you  desire.  Gravity  or  Pressure?.  .  .  , 

9.  What  type  softening  plant  do  you  desire.  Continuous  or  Inter¬ 

mittent? . 

10.  What  water  pressure  do  you  have? . 

11.  Do  you  pump  direct,  or  to  stand  pipe  or  reservoir? . 

12.  What  is  the  maximum  amount  of  water  used  per  hour,  also 

average  per  day?  . 

13.  At  what  elevation  must  water  be  delivered  from  plant  above 

ground  ? . 

14.  Give  ground  elevation,  elevation  of  water  level  in  river  or  well..  . 


15.  Have  you  water,  steam  or  electric  power? . 

16.  Send  sketch  of  power  house  building  and  location  showing  plan 

and  elevation . 

17.  Give  dimensions  of  ground  space  and  height  available . 


54 


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